Download Recommended Native and Adapted Plants for Boerne

Recommended Native and Adapted Plants for Boerne
Native Plant Society of Texas - Boerne Chapter
www.npsot.org/boerne
Using native and well-adapted plants to landscape will save time and money. Once established, natives
require less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and maintenance than most non-natives. Before buying plants,
identify the characteristics of your yard, such as how much morning and afternoon sun or shade you
have, available moisture, and drainage. All these will impact plant survival and the plant selections you
make. Choose plants that are suited to your site. Use a variety of heights in your design. For example,
plant a canopy tree to provide shade. Plant understory (U) trees, shade-loving shrubs, and shade tolerant
perennials under existing canopy trees. Not only will your landscape be more appealing, but you will
have a better survival rate when you provide some shade for plants that need protection from the
blistering Texas sun. Consider leaving any existing native vegetation undisturbed, as these areas will be
very low-maintenance, and will help preserve the “Hill Country Heritage” that attracts many people to
this area. You may enhance these native areas by adding favorite compatible selections for increased
color or wildlife food to attract hummingbirds , butterflies , and songbirds
to your yard. In
general, avoid acid-living plants as the soil in central Texas is very alkaline. Also, avoid water-requiring
plants as the average rainfall in the area is usually only around 30 inches per year.
This list includes non-native plants which grow compatibly with drought-tolerant native plants. These
are listed because of their hardiness in the Hill Country soil and climate and because of their availability
in local nurseries. This list does not include non-natives which could be invasive in this climate or which
require acid soils and excessive water.
Common Name
Scientific Name ( characteristics) descriptive symbols
Canopy Trees (35-50 ft., )
Bur Oak *
Big-tooth Maple *
Cedar Elm*
Chinquapin Oak*
Escarpment Black Cherry
Mexican Sycamore
Mexican (Monterrey) White Oak
Quercus macrocarpa (very large acorns, oak wilt resistant)
Acer grandidentatum (great fall color, yellow to orange, moderate growth)
Ulmus crassifolia (yellow fall color, produces many seedlings, fast growth)
Quercus muhlenbergii (fall color, reds to browns, oak wilt resistant)
Prunus serotina var. eximia (spring white flowers, yellow fall color)
Platanus mexicana (insect resistant, fast growth)
Quercus polymorpha (adapted, fast growing, oak wilt resistant) /
Medium Trees (10-35 ft., )
American Smoke Tree
Arizona Cypress
Carolina Buckthorn *
Desert Willow *
Eve’s Necklace
Lacey Oak
Mexican Buckeye
Mexican Plum
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum
Texas Mountain Laurel *
Texas Pistache
Texas Redbud (or Mexican) *
Cotinus obovatus (unusual flowers on females, yellow to orange fall color)
Cupressus arizonica (adapted, conical form, fast growing) DR
/
Rhamnus caroliniana (fall black berries)
Chilopsis linearis (summer purple to white flowers) DR
Sophora affinis (spring, drooping pink flower clusters, black seed pods in fall) DR
Quercus glaucoides (oak wilt resistant, slow growth)
Ungnadia speciosa (spring pink flowers, seedpods, fall color)
Prunus mexicana (spring white flowers, late summer fruit)
DR
Viburnum rufidulum (spring white flowers, fall color leaves and fruit)
Sophora secundiflora (early spring fragrant purple flowers, large seed pods) DR
Pistachia texana (red fruit clusters on female trees only, evergreen in mild winters)
Cercis canadensis var. texensis (var. mexicana) (early spring pink flowers) U DR
Deciduous Shrubs-Small Trees (4-20 ft.)
Anacacho Orchid Tree
Bauhinia congesta (adapted, multi trunked, spring white flowers)
American Beautyberry *
Callicarpa americana (fall purple or white berries)
U DR
Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica (adapted, summer white to purple flowers) DR
Desert Willow *
Chilopsis linearis (adapted, multi-trunked, spring-fall purple-white flowers)
Goldenball Leadtree
Leucaena retusa (adapted, multi trunked, yellow fuzzy ball flowers)
Kidneywood
Possumhaw Holly *
Rough-Leaf Dogwood *
Texas Lantana*
Texas Persimmon
Wafer-Ash (Hop Tree)
Eysenhardtia texana (summer white flowers)
DR
Ilex decidua (winter red to orange berries) DR
Cornus drummondii (spring white flowers, fall white berries)
Lantana horrida (spring to fall yellow, red-orange flowers) DR
Diospyros texana (smooth beautiful bark)
U DR
Ptelea trifoliata (host plant for swallowtail
)
U
U
Evergreen Shrubs-Small Trees (4-20 ft.)
U DR
Agarita *
Berberis trifoliolata (spring yellow flowers, red summer berries)
Agave (Century Plant)
Agave species (long lived, dies after bloom, sharp spines)
Cenizo *
Leucophyllum frutescens (grey or green leaves, purple flowers. after rain) DR
U
Evergreen Sumac *
Rhus virens (winter red berries, reddish leaves after frost)
Glossy Abelia
Abelia grandiflora, (adapted, white flowers throughout summer)
Mexican Silk-tassel
Garrya lindheimeri (black fruit) U DR
Prickly Pear*
Opuntia macrorhiza (yellow to orange flowers, spring, spineless varieties available)
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis (adapted, blue-purple flowers, spring-summer, upright or trailing) DR
Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera (adapted, dwarf or standard., blue waxy berries, attracts wildlife)
DR
Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria (winter red berries, wildlife) DR
Shade and Understory Flowering Perennials - Sub-shrubs ( )
Blue Mist Flower
Eupatorium coelestinum (adapted, fall blue flowers)
Cedar Sage*
Salvia roemeriana (spring to summer red flowers) DR
Chile Pequin*
Capsicum annuum (late summer red peppers) DR
Columbine, Hinckley’s
Aquilegia hinckleyana (spring yellow flowers.) DR
/
Columbine, Red *
Aquilegia canadensis (spring, red with yellow flowers) DR
Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus africanus (adapted, late spring, white to dark blue flowers)
Obedient Plant
Physotegia virginiana (spring or fall, pink to purple flowers) DR
Pigeonberry
Rivina humilis (summer to fall, small pink flowers and red berries)
Sage, Majestic
Salvia guaranitica (adapted, summer blue flowers) DR
Skullcap
Scutellaria resinosa or drummondii (spring to fall, dark purple-blue flowers)
Shrimp Plant
Justicia brandegeana (rusty-reddish flowers) DR
Thoroughwort (White Mist Flower) Eupatorium havanense (summer to fall white flowers)
Turk’s Cap*
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (summer red flowers, fall red berries)
DR
Full Sun Flowering Perennials – Sub-shrubs ( )
Amaryllis
Hippeastrum x Johnsonii (adapted, spring to fall flowers, red, pink, or white)
Antique Roses
Rosa species (adapted, spring to fall flowers, various colors, various sizes)
Autumn Asters*
Aster species (fall purple flowers) DR
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii (spring to fall flowers, white, pink, coral, red, purple) DR
Basket (Bear) Grass
Nolina texana (fall cream plume, not a true grass, mounding form)
Big Red Sage
Salvia penstemonoides (summer red-pink flowers) DR
Blackfoot Daisy*
Melampodium leucanthm (spring to fall, white flowers) DR
Brown-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta (summer yellow and brown flowers) DR
Butterfly Weed, Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa (summer orange flowers)
Butterfly Weed, Tropical
Asclepias curassavica (summer orange with red flowers)
Copper Canyon Daisy
Tagetes lemonii (late summer to frost, yellow flowers) DR
Coral Bean
Erythrina herbacea (summer to fall, red tubular flowers) DR
Coreopsis, Goldenwave
Coreopsis species (spring to summer, yellow daisy-like flowers) DR
Crinum lilies
Crinum species (adapted, summer, white to dark pink flowers, strap-like foliage)
Daisy, Oxeye or Shasta
Chrysanthemum species (spring, white and yellow flowers)
Damianita*
Chrysactinia mexicana (spring yellow flowers, and after rain) DR
Daylilies
Hemerocallis species (adapted, spring to fall, various colors and heights flowers)
Evening Primrose
Oenothera speciosa (spring pink flowers)
Firebush (Mexican)
Hamelia patens (adapted, orange-red tubular flowers late summer-fall, prune after freeze)
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (summer to fall, orange flowers) DR
Foxglove
Penstemon cobea (spring flowers, white to pink or purple)
Gaura*
Gaura lindheimeri (airy, fine arching stems tipped with pink flowers)
DR
Gayfeather
Liatris mucronata (fall flowers, purple)
Goldenrod, Prairie
Solidago nemoralis (fall flowers, yellow)
Indigo Spires
Salvia farinacea x S. longispicata (adapted, summer to frost, blue-violet flowers) DR
Iris, German Bearded
Iris germanica (adapted, spring flowers, white to purple)
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani (fall, large yellow flowers)
Mexican Bush Sage
Mexican Mint Marigold
Mexican Oregano
Mexican Petunia
Mexican Skullcap (Pink)
Mealy Blue Sage
Mistflower, Gregg’s
Mountain Sage
Pineapple Sage
Plumbago
Purple Coneflower
Red Yucca*
Rock Penstemon
Rock Rose*
Scarlet Penstemon (Hill Country)
Skeletonleaf Goldeneye
Slender Stem Bitterweed
Spider Lily
Spiderwort
Society Garlic
Summer Phlox
Texas Betony *
Trailing Lantana
Tropical Sage (Scarlet)
Twist-Leaf Yucca*
Verbena
Yarrow
Yellow Bells (Esperanza)*
Winecup
Zexmenia*
Salvia leucantha (adapted, fall, amethyst and white flowers) DR
Tagetes lucida (adapted, fall deep yellow flowers) DR
Poliomentha longiflora (adapted, spring to frost, lilac flowers) DR
Ruellia brittoniana (adapted, late spring to fall, blue-purple flowers) DR
Scutellaria suffrutescens (adapted, summer-fall pink flowers, mounding) DR
Salvia farinacea (spring to fall, white to blue flowers) DR
Eupatorium greggii (adapted, summer blue flowers)
Salvia regla (adapted, fall, red-orange flowers) DR
Salvia elegans (adapted, summer to fall, red flowers, edible herb) DR
Plumbago auriculata (adapted, spring-fall, blue to white flowers) DR
Echinacea angustifolia (adapted, spring to fall, pink-purple flowers) DR
Hesperaloe parviflora (spring pink-red flowers) DR
Penstemon baccharifolius (summer red flowers)
Pavonia lasiopetala (spring to fall, pink flowers)
Penstemon triflorus (spring red flowers)
Viguiera stenoloba (adapted, summer, yellow daisy-like flowers) DR
Hymenoxys scaposa (abundant spring yellow flowers, blooms all year) DR
Hymenocallis liriosme (spring white flowers, leaves strap-like)
Tradescantia species (spring, purple, blue, pink flowers)
Tulbaghia violacea (adapted, summer to fall, lavender flowers) DR
Phlox paniculata (adapted, summer flowers, pink to purple)
Stachys coccinea (adapted, summer to fall coral/red tubular flowers)
Lantana montevidensis (adapted, spring to frost purple or white flowers) DR
Salvia coccinea (summer flowers, red, white, coral) DR
Yucca rupicola (spring white flowers)
Verbena species (spring to summer flowers, pink, purple) DR
Achillea millefolium (adapted, fern-like foliage, summer flowers, white, yellow, pink) DR
Tecoma stans (adapted, spring to fall, yellow flowers) DR
Callirhoe species (spring to summer, purple flowers)
Zexmenia hispida (summer to fall, yellow-orange flowers) DR
Vines
Coral Honeysuckle*
Coral Vine
Crossvine
Scarlet Clematis
Passion Vine (Maypop)
Trumpet Creeper
Virginia Creeper
Lonicera sempervirens (spring to fall, coral-red flowers, 10+ feet)
Antigonon leptopus (late summer to fall white or rose/pink flower clusters, 30+ feet)
Bignonia capreolata (spring to fall, high climbing, reaching 30+ feet)
U /
Clematis texensis (spring to summer, delicate vine, red flowers, endemic, 5+ feet)
Passiflora incarnate (spring to summer, lavender flowers, fall berry, 15+ feet)
Campsis radicans (summer red-orange flower, vigorous climber to 50 feet)
DR
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (fall, brilliant red leaves, high climbing to 50 feet)
Ferns
Southern Maidenhair Fern
River Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris (needs moist environment)
Dropteris normalis (needs moist environment)
U
Groundcover
Frogfruit
Horseherb
Monkey Grass (Mondo)
Ruellia, ‘Katie’ or ‘Bonita’
Sedges
Sedum species (Stonecrop)
DR
Phyla incisa (spring to fall white flowers)
Calyptocarpus vialis (spring to fall very small yellow flowers)
Ophiopogon japonicus (adapted, 4-8”, dwarf form available)
Ruellia brittoniana (dwarf, spring to fall, blue/purple, pink or white flowers)
Carex species (clump, grass-like foliage)
Sedum species (white, yellow or pink flowered varieties)
Ornamental Bunch Grasses
Gulf Muhly *
Lindheimer’s Muhly*
Indian Grass
Inland Sea Oats
Mexican Feathergrass
Muhlenbergia capillaries (fall pink feathery seedheads)
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (summer, with fall plumes) fireflies,
DR
Sorghastrum nutans ( late summer, with fall golden plumes) fireflies,
DR
U DR
Chasmanthium latifolium (summer to fall, attractive seed heads) fireflies,
Stipa tenuissima (adapted, summer, showy fall silver to gold clumps) fireflies,
DR
Lawn Grasses
Buffalo, 609 or Prairie
Buchloe dactyloides (blue green, little watering and mowing)
/
U
DR
U
DR
U DR
Symbols:
DR
/
Sunlight Requirements:
Deer Resistant but dependent on local conditions
Attracts birds
Attracts butterflies
Attracts hummingbirds
U
Full sun
Part sun/part shade, good for understory plant
Shade
Understory plants
Evergreen
Deciduous
Late Deciduous, almost Evergreen
* Operation NICE! - P.O.M. (Natives Instead of Common Exotic - Plant Of the Month)
For a complete list, planting, and care instructions for all NICE! Plants of the Month see the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant
Society of Texas website at: www.npsot.org/boerne
Local Nurseries Participating in Operation NICE! include:
Barkley’s Nursery Center
Hill Country African Violets
Maldonado Landscape and Nursery
Where the Wild Things Bloom
Watch for the Cibolo Nature Center’s Mostly Native Plant Sale in April for a huge selection of native plants.
Exotic or very invasive plants not recommended for the Boerne Area include:
Trees (10-50 ft.,
Chinaberry
Chinese Pistache
Chinese Tallow
Giant Cane
)
Evergreen Shrubs – Small Trees (4-20 ft.,
Ligustrum species
Nandina
Pyracantha
Deciduous Shrubs-Small Trees (4-20 ft.,
Asian Mimosa
)
)
Shade and Understory Flowering Perennials – Sub-shrubs ( )
Vinca
Full Sun Flowering Perennials – Sub-shrubs ( )
Castor Bean
Water Hyacinth
Vines
English Ivy (
)
Japanese Honeysuckle ( )
Ornamental Grasses ( )
Fountain Grass
Pampas Grass
Lawn Grass ( )
Bermuda
St. Augustine
Recommended Websites:
Cibolo Nature Center: www.cibolo.org
Native Plant Society of Texas: www.npsot.org
Native Plant Society of Texas – Boerne Chapter: www.npsot.org/boerne
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: www.wildflower.org
Native Plant Society of Texas – Boerne Chapter meets the first Tuesday of each month, September – June, at 7:00 PM (6:30 PM
social time) at the Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium. All meetings are free and open to the public.